Government employees help Nottingham pupils find jobs

Pupils from a Nottingham school are hoping advice from employees of two city-based Government agencies could be ‘just the job’ when it comes to helping them find work in the future.

Seven teenagers from Ellis Guilford School and Sports College, in Basford, have visited the offices of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and the Independent Living Fund for a specially-devised vocational programme over the past three weeks.

They were each paired up with a mentor, who gave them guidance on how to search for jobs, apply for vacancies and prepare for interviews.

The pupils also underwent mock interviews to give them an idea of what to expect when the time comes for them to enter the employment market.

GLA Chief Executive Paul Broadbent: “We were delighted to engage with Ellis Guilford School to run our second scheme this year and give something back to the community in which many of our staff live and work.

“The students, who are currently in years nine to 11 have been given the opportunity to gain essential life skills in order to obtain future employment, while our staff had an opportunity to update their own skills.”

The GLA is a government agency that licences businesses who supply temporary workers for roles in the UK’s fresh produce industry and investigates cases of exploitation.

The ILF delivers financial support to disabled people so they can choose to live in their communities rather than in residential care.

The scheme is part of a national Civil Service commitment to deliver 30,000 paid volunteering days by guiding activities in key policy areas.

James Sanderson, Chief Executive of ILF said: “The programme delivered positive results for both pupils and the staff who took part demonstrating the importance of such initiatives.”

ENDS

Press release issued by GLA Communications and Information Officer Paul Fearn. For more information contact 0115 959 7069 or email communications@gla.gsi.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. The GLA operates throughout the UK and is a Non-Departmental Public Body.

2. The authority was formed in 2005 in the wake of the Morecambe Bay cockle picking disaster when 23 Chinese workers drowned on the sands.

3. The GLA licences companies that supply labour (gangmasters) for agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering as well as all associated processing and packaging.

4. Its main strategic priorities are to prevent worker exploitation, protect vulnerable people and tackle unlicensed and criminal activity.

5. Under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act (2004), it is illegal both to operate as, or employ the services of, an unlicensed gangmaster.

http://www.gla.gov.uk/